Michele Bachmann may not be responsive to typical migraine medications, says a former state Republican official, suggesting the medical issue could affect the Minnesota congresswoman’s ability to be president.

Former California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring – who, like Bachmann, suffers from migraines – told POLITICO’s Arena the headaches can be cut from debilitating 8-hour ordeals to minor 2-hour incidents with generic medications like Imitrex.

“From the press reports, it appears Ms. Bachmann does not respond to typical migraine medications – if she did, there would be no need for visits to urgent care centers or being in a dark room for hours,” Nehring wrote. “Should Ms. Bachmann be unresponsive to normal migraine medications and thus experience lengthy periods of debilitation, then I regret to say it is an issue which needs to be discussed.”

“Ms. Bachmann is a fine legislator and an articulate conservative whose candidacy has drawn significant support. Yet, there is a difference between being a legislator or candidate and being an executive,” Nehring went on. “The world isn’t coming to an end if someone misses a vote in Congress, but voters need to decide if the president of the United States can be frequently sidelined for 8+ hours at a time.”

Bachmann has come under increased scrutiny this week for her severe headaches, which an aide told POLITICO would cause the congresswoman to retreat to her office, shut the door and lie in the dark for hours.

“On multiple occasions, we had to basically turn out the lights in her office, shut the door and put a virtual do-not-disturb sign on her office for hours on end so she could lie there and try to recuperate from the headaches,” the aide said.

In a statement acknowledging the migraines, Bachmann, who’s seeking the Republican presidential nomination, said she’s been taking medication to treat them, denying they interfere with her work.